Nanaimo cyclist riding to help 4-year-old family member battle leukemia
NANAIMO — A Nanaimo cyclist isn’t letting his age stop him from pedalling to raise money for early cancer detection and more awareness.
Barrie Penrice, 71, is riding in the Ride to Conquer Cancer for the second year on Saturday, Aug. 26 from Cloverdale down to Seattle.
Last year he rode for his sister, who passed away in 1993 from ovarian cancer at the age of 45. This year he’s riding for his four-year-old great-niece Tegan, who has downs syndrome and is battling leukemia.
“It’s hard. It rips your heart when you see all the pain and suffering,” Penrice told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I’m an optimist and there’s hope for new developments and treatments, so this year my ride is for Tegan.”